A story of Army Ethos
The desert wind whipped around Naya Chor, a lonely outpost in the vast Sindh Desert. Inside the spartan office, Captain Aditya Singh, the Unit Adjutant, chuckled as the phone buzzed for the umpteenth time that day. He recognized the number – it could only be Jag Ram.
Jag Ram wasn’t your typical Subedar Major (SM Sahib). A former wrestler, his imposing size and booming voice were legendary within the battalion. Recruited from the famed “Pahlwan” (Wrestler) Coy of the Grenadiers, a unit known for its burly Jat soldiers, Jag Ram wasn’t just strong – he was a leader. He’d represented the Services in wrestling competitions, his dedication earning him the respect of his peers and superiors alike.
Despite his prowess, Jag Ram harbored a secret: a lack of formal education. He couldn’t decipher the complex battalion orders that landed on his desk every day. But Jag Ram, ever resourceful, invented a unique shorthand system. It might have looked like gibberish to anyone else, but for Jag Ram, it was a flawless record of every detail.
Aditya smiled as he remembered his first encounter with Jag Ram years ago. Back then, Jag Ram was the Battalion Havildar Major (BHM), a strict disciplinarian who had his own way of motivating soldiers. “Yato theek hoja nahi toh Kamar mein Laat marunga” (Shape up or get tossed!), he’d boom, his thick Jat accent leaving no room for argument.
Their bond had grown over the years, forged in the crucible of shared service. Aditya had witnessed Jag Ram’s unwavering courage firsthand during the fierce Nathula conflict with China. While bullets whizzed overhead, Jag Ram, calm amidst the chaos, ensured smooth troop movement and casualty evacuation.
Then came the incident that could have ended Jag Ram’s career. During a tense night patrol, he encountered a suspicious figure in Indian Army uniform. The man, however, mumbled the wrong password in broken Hindi. Mistaking him for a Chinese soldier, Jag Ram wrestled him to the ground. The situation turned comical when the “enemy” turned out to be the Division Artillery Brigade Commander, an officer with East Asian features and limited Hindi! Thankfully, the Commander saw the humor in the situation and saved Jag Ram from a court-martial.
Years later, when a JCO vacancy wasn’t available for Jag Ram’s promotion, Aditya, recognizing his immense value, intervened. He persuaded the CO to secure a special vacancy from the Regimental Records. This paved the way for Jag Ram’s well-deserved promotions, culminating in his honorary Captaincy upon retirement.
Back in his village near Rohtak, Jag Ram lived a quiet life, surrounded by his family. His memory may be fading, but one thing remained constant – his daily calls to Aditya. “Kyon Nahi akhir Adjutant aur BHM/ Sub Maj Ka toh janam janam Ka rishta jo hai!” (Why not, after all, the bond between an Adjutant and his BHM/ Sub Maj is for life!), he’d declare, his gruff voice filled with warmth.
Theirs was a story of unlikely friendship, forged in the shared experiences of military life. And as Aditya listened to Jag Ram’s voice crackle over the phone line, he couldn’t help but swell with pride. For Jag Ram’s legacy lived on not just in his medals and stripes, but also in his fiercely loyal grandson, Subedar Amit Panghal – a world-class boxer with his sights set on Olympic gold.